Northern B.C. Ecosystem Restoration Community of Practice Workshop - Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

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Wed, 29 Oct 2025

Northern B.C. Ecosystem Restoration Community of Practice Workshop

Photo by Chu Cho Environmental

Register now for our Community of Practice workshop in Prince George, November 25-27, 2025. In-person attendance is free.

Following a successful launch workshop in 2024, a Community of Practice (CoP) for ecosystem restoration in Northern BC is taking shape, complete with a new coordinator, Mae Whyte. This growing network supports practitioners through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

The Community of Practice Organizing Team is comprised of: Society for Ecosystem Restoration in Northern BC (SERNbc), the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) via the Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF), Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), and the BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF).

Register Now!
The Restoration CoP for Northern BC will convene at Uda dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) in Lheidli T’enneh territory (Prince George) from November 25th-27th for a hybrid, three-day annual meeting. In-person attendance is free; virtual tickets are $30.

If you can support the event by donating your time or becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Mae: mae.whyte@sernbc.ca.

More Info & Registration

Can’t participate? Fear not! The CoP will have other offerings throughout the year, from webinars to workshops, both hands-on and virtual-only experiences. Click here to stay in the loop.

Our Vision
To build, develop, and strengthen our community of practice through knowledge sharing, communication, and collaboration.

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🚨 Now Open: Fish & Wildlife Grant Intake! These grants fund projects across B.C. that make a real difference for native freshwater fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Projects should: 🐟 Focus on native fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation 🐟 Deliver meaningful conservation outcomes 🐟 Align with HCTF’s purposes under the Wildlife Act Eligible applicants include: 🌿 Provincial or municipal governments 🌿 First Nations 🌿 Academic institutions 🌿 Non-government organizations 🌿 Industry One of our top priorities is enhancing and restoring fish and wildlife habitats, so we especially encourage on-the-ground projects that create measurable impact. Apply by November 7, 2025, at 4:30 PM (PT) Learn more and apply at https://hctf-grants.smapply.ca/prog/fish_and_wildlife/ 📷 Project 7-538

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🐟🌿 From a Big Idea to Big Impact: The Story of HCTF Back in 1979, a group of passionate fish and wildlife enthusiasts from Cranbrook had an idea — what if there were a dedicated fund to protect B.C.’s fish, wildlife, and habitat? Their proposal for a conservation tax on resource exports evolved into something even more powerful: a voluntary surcharge on hunting, angling, trapping, and guide outfitting licences. By 1981, that idea became reality with the creation of the Habitat Conservation Fund — announced by Minister Stephen Rogers as “An Opportunity for Wildlife.” It was a groundbreaking way to ensure that those who enjoy B.C.’s wild places could directly contribute to conserving them. Today, that fund has grown into the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) — investing over $9 million each year into conservation projects across the province. From humble beginnings to lasting impact, we’re proud to continue supporting a future where B.C.’s fish, wildlife, and habitats are healthy and valued by all British Columbians. 💚 #ConservationInAction #BCWildlife #HabitatConservation #HCTF #BCWildPlaces #ConservationHistory #WildlifeFunding

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🧛‍♂️✨ “Say it… out loud.” Fog. Forest. Mystery. And not a single sparkly vampire in sight - just another gorgeous fall morning in B.C. 🍁 When the mist rolls in, ecosystems come alive in unexpected ways. Moist air helps trees retain water, supports mosses and fungi, and even gives some animals the cover they need to stay safe. Who needs Edward when you’ve got ecological balance? #TwilightVibes #FoggyBC #HabitatConservationTrust #FallInBC #NatureNotVampires

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$💚 Turning Environmental Penalties into Conservation Action 💚 Did you know that 37% of HCTF’s annual funding comes from restricted contributions and court awards? When environmental infractions occur in B.C., the courts can direct funds to HCTF through creative sentencing—turning penalties into positive outcomes for fish, wildlife, and habitat. Thanks to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) and their dedication to environmental prosecutions, HCTF allocated over $289,000 to 20 conservation projects in 2024–25, representing 29 separate infractions. We invest court-awarded funds back into the region where the offence occurred, prioritizing projects that directly address or benefit the impacted species or ecosystem. For example, if an infraction involves moose habitat, we aim to fund projects that restore or protect moose or their habitat in that region. Since 1981, HCTF has received over $6 million in court-awarded funds, supporting hundreds of projects that help keep B.C.’s wild spaces thriving. A huge thank you to the BCCOS and everyone working to ensure environmental accountability in B.C. 🌿 #ConservationInAction #BCWildlife #HabitatConservation #BCCOS #HCTF #ConservationFunding #BCEnvironment$

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Scholarship Student Highlight: Torrie Nicholas Torrie is one of this year’s Al Marting Scholarship Recipients and is a master’s student from Thompson Rivers University. Torrie’s research is focused on the impacts of predation on Chinook salmon by invasive Smallmouth bass. Working with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Torrie is exploring the potential that Smallmouth bass are preying on juvenile salmon in key rearing and migrating habitats. To determine if this is the case, she will be analyzing the stomach contents of approximately 200 Smallmouth bass collected in the Okanagan area. This research will provide critical data to support conservation management strategies, mitigating threats to sk’lwist populations in the Okanagan.

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🌊 We’re featured in AFS’s new film series, Tomorrow’s Catch: Securing Our Future Fisheries! 🎥 In our segment “Breathing Life Into Logan Lake,” we shine a light on a community-driven solution to a pressing problem: winter oxygen depletion under ice. This project is a perfect example of conservation in action, where science, local innovation, and community values unite to restore ecosystems and strengthen the well-being of the people who depend on them. It’s more than just saving fish; it's about protecting a way of life. 🌿🏞️ Huge thanks to the @americanfisheries and Content With Purpose for featuring HCTF in this powerful and visually striking digital series launched in August 2025 that spotlights bold conservation stories across North America and beyond! #TomorrowsCatch #FisheriesConservation #HCTF #LoganLake #BCConservation #InnovationInAction #AFS #TomorrowsCatch #FutureFisheries #FisheriesScience #AquaticConservation #SustainableFisheries #SustainableAquaculture #FreshwaterCrisis #ClimateResilientFisheries #AquaticBiodiversity #FishHabitatRestoration #HealthyWatersheds #FisheriesProfessionals

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🍂 Happy Thanksgiving, British Columbia! 🦃 As we gather to share food and gratitude, we’re thankful for the incredible natural spaces and wildlife that make B.C. home. From vibrant forests and winding rivers to the diverse species that depend on them, these landscapes sustain us all. 🌲🐾 At HCTF, we’re thankful for the conservationists, educators, volunteers, and communities who work tirelessly to protect B.C.’s fish, wildlife, and habitats. Every project we fund helps build a more resilient future — one that all British Columbians can be thankful for. 💚 Let’s remember to give thanks not just for nature, but to nature — by caring for the lands and waters that care for us. #HCTF #Thanksgiving #ConservationInBC #HabitatConservation #BCWildlife #GratefulForNature #ProtectWhatYouLove

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HCTF is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity beginning in the 2026-27 grant year, “Raptors of the Fraser Valley Lowlands.” This opportunity stems from a collaboration between HCTF, the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the Hancock Wildlife Foundation. HCTF has a long history of investing in projects that restore, conserve, or enhance fish and wildlife populations and habitats, including avian raptor populations at risk. This new fund will support prioritized activities that improve outcomes for raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, etc.) of the Fraser Valley Lowlands of B.C. (Hope to Richmond/Delta). These outcomes include both direct and indirect improvements to populations or habitat for these birds.